Motion display stand



Sept. 17, I946.

L. w. SANDERSON 2,407,747 MOTION DISPLAY s'mm Filed Sept. 12, 1945 [aw-9RD Mfmvbznsolv the claims which Patented Sept. 17, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 I 2,407,747 l I MOTION DISPLAY STAND Leonard W. Sanderson, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Application September 12, 1945, Serial No. 615,802

' 10.Claims. l

I The invention relates to improvements in display standsadaptedfor use in displaying wearing apparel on a mannequin or other exhibiting purposes.

The general object of the: invention is to provide a stand or fixture in which a mannequin, model or the like used in display of wearing apparel such as dresses, coats, et cetera, is animated in a manner to attract attention and to centre it upon the article on display by causing the mannequin or model to rotate with an accompanying vertical. movement a regards. to the platform onwhichit is supported.

Another object is to provide a dispiaysta'nd wherein a model or mannequin for exhibiting an article is given a life-likemotio'n by causin it to spiralupwardly from an opening in a platform and then to return in like manner.

The invention comprehends an organization wherein a turntable centrally carries the mannequin or model and is mounted in a platform so as to ascend tothe top thereof while it. is turning and to then descend while turning in opposite direction. The turntable is mechanically driven and electrically controlled.

The invention provides a display apparatus particularly suited for show windows and the interior of'stores; It exposes to best advantage the article on display and exhibits it in a compre hensive manner such that onlookers may see it from all angles in a way which is fascinating" and conducive to promote sales.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawingwherein a practical form of the same isishown, it being understood that such changes and modifications may be resorted to as come within the spirit of the disclosure as defined in form a part of the specification.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the invention showing the turntable in lowered position.

Fig; 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1 but omitting the mannequin;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section omitting the marinequin and showingth'e turntable raised approximately to its upper position- Fig. 4. is a perspective view of. the base of. the display stand.

Fig. 5 is a side view of the feed screw for the turntable.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a threaded sleeve that mountsthe turntable on the feed screw.

Fig. 7 is a detail of an idler gear which permits the turntable to have vertical movement while rotating.

Fig. 8 isia sectional detail of a clamping device forthebase ofthe mannequin.

In carrying out my invention I provide a base plate Ii! of rectangular shape for supporting the turntable II and the mechanismby which it is actuated. Said base plate is a fiat member preferably rectangular shape and of greater length than width: It. rests upon the floor of a show window or-other supporting surface and maybe aperturedas at I2 for receiving screws or other fastening elements should it be desired to'secure it permanently in place. Its ends may be supplied with hand holesias at l3 forconveniencein carrying it from place to place when it is desired to change the location of the display device. 7

The base plate is housedby a platform I4 of a box-like nature comprising a top wall l5 and side walls I6. The platform is of a shape similar to the base plate which is confined within the side walls I6 thereof.

The top wall 15 provides a surface or table above which the mannequin is exhibited and it is; largely cutaway to provide an opening I! re eptive to said turntable. Both the turntable and the opening I? are circular, the opening being of a slightly larger diameter to freely-admit the turntable which is a disk on which a mannequin, model or the like is adapted to be detach'ably mounted for central support therein.

The mannequin, illustrated at I8, is detachably mounted so that it can be removed and another substituted as occasion requires in theuseof the invention.

The turntable is provided with 3. depending sleeve H? which is internally screw threaded and engaged with a feed screw 25 upstanding from the baseplate. Said sleeve is located axially of the turntable and. secured thereto as by a pierced flange 2i whichisscrewed. or otherwise attached to the turntable. The sleeve and the feed screw are proportioned so that when the turntable is turned. in one direction it will be lowered into the chamber of the platform to a position well below the top surface thereof. The turntable is returned to its uppermost position by reverse rotation.

In order to rotate the. turntable the sleeve I9 is supplied with a ring gear 22 rigid therewith and provided with. peripheral teeth in mesh with an elongated idler 23 whose length accommodates the vertical travel of the turntable so that the rin gear is in constant mesh. Said idler isjournalled on a fixed vertical shaft 24 having head 36 which is seated upon the turntable.

3 its lower end attached to the base plate It]. Said idler gear is driven by a spur gear 25 keyed on a vertical shaft 26 rotatably supported in brackets 21 and rotated by mitre gears 28 from an electric motor 29, which is also rigid with said base plate. Said motor is of the reversible type andis provided with a conductor cord 30 of a suitable length for making electrical connection witha service outlet. It is also supplied with a switch 3| for reversal of rotation. The switch is of a known type and in the present instance is shown as provided with an actuator 32 piv oted for movement between two positions. The

Y switch has its actuator interposed between the ring gear 22 and the turntable so that when the turntable ascends to the level of the platform the ring gearv will trip the actuator and when the turntable descends it will reversely trip the actuator.

To operate the turntable it is only necessary to energize the motor. The gearing rotates the turntable which is caused to travel axially inv a reciprocal manner. The switch automatically accomplishes the reversal of the motor. The compound motion causes the mannequin to ascend and descend in a spiral manner.

The means for detachably securing the mannequin on the turntable preferably comprises an arrangement of clamps equidistantly spaced therearound for engaging the usual base 33 of the mannequin. Since the bases of mannequins may vary in diameter and thickness it is desirable that the clamps be adjustable to different bases. The clamps of the present disclosure provide for any necessary adjustment and each includes a flat bar 34 radially arranged with an inner end adapted to bear on a marginal part of the mannequin-base and with an outer end fulcrumed on a stud 35 having screw-threaded engagement therewith. The stud has a large The threaded connection of the stud enables the bar 34 to be adjusted so that it will be horizontally arranged to suit different thicknesses of manne quin-bases. Intermediate of the length of the bar 34 there is provided a bolt 31 which extends downwardly through a hole therein and through a radial slot 38 in the turntable. The head of the bolt is shouldered on the bar and the nut 39 is shouldered against the underside of the turntable; thereby clamping pressure is applied on the bar to produce the clamping effect. Preferably the area about the slot is reinforced by a wear plate 40.

It will be evident from the preceding disclosure that the invention provides a highly efficient and useful displa fixture which can be manufactured at low cost.

While the invention has been described in its preferred form it will be manifest that it need not be confined to the exact particular construction and arrangement herein set forth.

What I claim is:

1. A display stand comprising a platform including a chamber and a top wall having an aperture leading into the chamber, a turntable operable within said aperture for supporting an object to be displayed, and means including a motor and gearing for rotating said turntable with an accompanying axial movement whereby it is caused to descend and ascend within said chamber during rotation.

2. A display stand comprising a platform including a chamber and a top wall having an aperture leading into th chamber, a turntable operable within said aperture for supporting an object to be displayed, and electro-mechanical means for rotating said turntable with an accompanying axial movement whereby it is caused to descend and ascend within said chamber duringrotation.

3. A display stand comprising a platform including a chamber and a top wall having an aperture leadinginto the chamber, a turntable operable within said aperture for supporting an object tobe displayed, and electro-mechanical means for rotating said turntable with an accompanying movement reciprocably of its axis, said means including a feed screw and a sleeve threadedly engaged therewith.

4. A display stand comprising aplatform including a chamber and a top-wall having an aperture leading into the chamber, a turntable.

operable within said aperture for supporting an object to be displayed, and electro-mechanical means for rotating said turntable with an accompanying axial reciprocation, said mean including a fixed feed screw within said chamber, a sleeve centrally depending from the turntable having threaded engagement with the feed screw and a reversibly driven gearing connected to said sleeve.

5. A display stand comprising a platform including a chamber and a top wall having an aperture leading into the chamber, a turntable operable within said aperture for supporting an object to be displayed, and electro-mechanical means for rotating said turntable with an accompanying axial reciprocation, said means including a fixed feed screw within said chamber, a sleeve centrally depending from the turntable having threaded engagement with the feed screw, gearing connected to thesleeve, and'a reversible electric motor for operating the gearing having switch means to automatically reverse the direction of rotation.

6. A display stand comprising a platform including a chamber and a top wall having an aperture leadingvinto the chamber, a turntable operable within said aperture for supporting an object to be displayed, and means for rotating said turntable spirally about its axis, said means comprising a feedscrew fixed within said chamber, a sleeve centrally depending from the turntable and threadedly engaged with the feed screw,

a ring gear on the sleeve, an idler gear in mesh therewith having its axis disposed parallel to the sleeve and being of a length to remain in mesh with the ring gear throughout axial travel of the turntable, and means for driving the idler first in one direction and then in the opposite direction.

7. A display stand comprising a platform including a chamber and a top wall having an aperture leading into the chamber, a turntable operable within said aperture-for supporting an object to be displayed, and electro-mechanical means for rotating said turntable with an accompanying axial reciprocation, said means, consisting of a stationary feed screw upstanding from the bottom of said chamber, an internally threaded sleeve centrally depending from said turntable and threadedly mounted on said feed screw, a ring gear on the lower end of said sleeve, an idler gear in mesh therewith and of a length such that it remains in mesh during screw action of the sleeve, a reversible electric motor, gearing connecting the motor to said idler, 'and an electric switch in the motor circuit having an actuator adapted to be tripped in the axial travel of the turntable and the ring gear on the sleeve, for reversal of the motor.

8. A structure as claimed in claim 7, and in which the platform is in the form of a box loosely fitted on a base plate which supports the turntable and the electro-mechanical means by which it is operated.

9. A structure in accordance with claim 1, in which the turntable is provided with radially disposed clamping devices for centrally securing the base of a mannequin thereon.

10. A structure in accordance with claim 1, in which the turntable is supplied with radial slots for clamps, and in which the clamps comprise clamping bars bolted to the turntable through said slots and supported at an end by adjustable studs.

LEONARD W. SANDERSON. 

